My Sunday Best: Pearls of Wisdom, Wit, Grace, and Style

By La Verne Ford Wimberly

Her hats made us smile.

Her smile gave us hope.

"People from all over the world have said my Sunday selfies have blessed and inspired them. Who would have thought photos of an eighty-two-year-old church lady in a hat could do such a thing?"

Earlier in her life as an educator, Dr. La Verne Ford Wimberly helped desegregate the Tulsa school system, served as a school superintendent, and had a high school library named after her. But it was her determination to stay positive and stay connected during the first year of the COVID pandemic that made Dr. Wimberly a household name around the world.

After posting selfies in her Sunday best for fifty-two consecutive weeks during one of the most difficult times in our country’s history, Dr. Wimberly became a viral sensation—for her hats, her smile, and most of all, her joy.  

As My Sunday Best beautifully shows, underneath Dr. Wimberly’s stunning church finery is a wise, warm, and witty octogenarian who's still committed to the values she learned in childhood:

• Faith in God and country
• Devotion to family
• A positive attitude
• A life of service

 

My Sunday Best includes color photos of all Dr. Wimberly’s famous selfies (no repeating outfits!), fascinating true stories from a woman who lived history and made history, words of wisdom, and prayers of devotion and gratitude. This gorgeous book offers a glimpse into the life and spirit of a woman who inspired a nation. As Dr. Wimberly reminds us, loving God, loving people, and having fun are the hallmarks of a life well lived.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Mar 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781400325115

La Verne Ford Wimberly

Dr. La Verne Ford Wimberly is a retired career educator who played a role in desegregating the Tulsa school system. She later became the first interim African American female superintendent and has a trail of honors in her wake. Dr. Wimberly was most recently the chairperson of the Greenwood Cultural Center Board of Directors and the chair of the Board of Trustees at her beloved Metropolitan Baptist Church. The library at her alma mater, Booker T. Washington High School, is named after Dr. Wimberly and there are murals of her in schools throughout Tulsa. Plus, there are two days in the year that Tulsa declared “Dr. La Verne Ford Wimberly Day”; and that was all before she posted her first Sunday Best selfie! Dr. Wimberly lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Book preview

Dedication

To my parents, Jesse Eugene Ford and Clydie Vernice Smith Ford; my husband, James Oliver Wimberly; and sister, Jewell Vernice Maynard, for their enduring encouragement, love, and support. Thanks for helping me soar. I am eternally grateful.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Selfie 1: March 29, 2020

Introduction

Selfie 2: April 5, 2020

Wisdom, Wit, Grace, and Style

Home

Selfie 3: April 12, 2020

Greenwood District, Black Wall Street

Selfie 4: April 19, 2020

Worship

Selfie 5: April 26, 2020

Teaching

Selfie 6: May 3, 2020

Elegant

Selfie 7: May 10, 2020

Crown

Selfie 8: May 17, 2020

Love and Marriage

Selfie 9: May 24, 2020

Selfie 10: May 31, 2020

Family

Selfie 11: June 7, 2020

Freedom

Selfie 12: June 14, 2020

Resilience

Selfie 13: June 21, 2020

Selfie 14: June 28, 2020

Faith

Selfie 15: July 5, 2020

Beauty

Selfie 16: July 12, 2020

Selfie 17: July 19, 2020

Grace

Selfie 18: July 26, 2020

Friendship

Selfie 19: August 2, 2020

Selfie 20: August 9, 2020

Selfie 21: August 16, 2020

Kindness

Selfie 22: August 23, 2020

Encouragement

Selfie 23: August 30, 2020

Perseverance

Selfie 24: September 6, 2020

Gentleness

Selfie 25: September 13, 2020

Selfie 26: September 20, 2020

Fear

Selfie 27: September 27, 2020

Selfie 28: October 4, 2020

Pray

Selfie 29: October 11, 2020

Selfie 30: October 18, 2020

Selfie 31: October 25, 2020

Be Bold!

Forgiveness

Selfie 32: November 1, 2020

Grit

Selfie 33: November 8, 2020

Joy

Selfie 34: November 15, 2020

Serve

Selfie 35: November 22, 2020

Light

Purpose

Vision

Selfie 36: November 29, 2020

Selfie 37: December 6, 2020

Selfie 38: December 13, 2020

Onward

Selfie 39: December 20, 2020

Witness

Selfie 40: December 27, 2020

Order

Selfie 41: January 3, 2021

Provision

Selfie 42: January 10, 2021

Resourcefulness

Selfie 43: January 17, 2021

Travel

Selfie 44: January 24, 2021

Sisterhood

Etiquette

Trust

Selfie 45: January 31, 2021

Selfie 46: February 7, 2021

Protection

Selfie 47: February 14, 2021

Hope

Selfie 48: February 21, 2021

Selfie 49: February 28, 2021

Honor

Selfie 50: March 7, 2021

Meditation

Selfie 51: March 14, 2021

Victory

Selfie 52: March 21, 2021

Ready for the Word

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Copyright

Selfie 1

March 29, 2020

MY SUNDAY BEST: For my first selfie I put on a wide-brim, frilly white hat; a simple white blouse with eyelet inserts; a turquoise skirt; and matching turquoise jewelry.

Introduction

It all started with the pandemic.

I never miss going to church on Sunday.

So, on March 29, 2020, the first Sunday that my beloved Metropolitan Baptist Church in Tulsa had a virtual worship service because of the pandemic, I knew that giving honor and glory to God in my bathrobe or workout gear was not an option.

I was raised to present myself to the Lord wearing my very best. At eighty-two years old, I couldn’t start being a slouch before God, even though I was alone at home. So, just like any other Sunday, I got up and got dressed. The song Brighten the Corner Where You Are that I learned in church when I was a child came to mind. It’s still one of my favorites today. The words resonate with me, and maybe with you too:

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,

Do not wait to shed your light afar;

To the many duties ever near you now be true,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Refrain:

Brighten the corner where you are!

Brighten the corner where you are!

Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;

Brighten the corner where you are!

Just above the clouded skies that you may help to clear,

Let not narrow self your way debar;

Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,

Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;

Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,

Brighten the corner where you are.

—INA DULEY OGDON, 1912, PUBLIC DOMAIN

With that song running through my mind, I put on a wide-brim, frilly white hat; a simple white blouse with eyelet inserts; a turquoise skirt; and matching turquoise jewelry. I’m usually more formally attired for an in-person service, but I thought it would be fun to snap a selfie and post it on Facebook. I let folks know that I was ready to worship and encouraged them to do the same. Some of my fellow church members are Facebook friends, and this was my way to brighten their spirits—and mine—and stay connected during a time of sudden isolation and despair for many people.

After posting that first selfie, I kept doing it. Week after week I got up on Sunday morning and put on a different outfit and a different hat and snapped a photo of myself. In the ninth week I started to add a scripture or inspirational message. I never imagined that more than a year would go by before my church resumed in-person services. For fifty-two consecutive Sundays, I posted a picture of myself on Facebook—dressed in my Sunday best—and I never repeated a hat or an outfit!

After fifty-two weeks, our church had its last virtual worship service and, on March 21, 2021, I posted my final Sunday Selfie. Kim Jackson, a reporter for Tulsa’s KTUL ABC channel 8, is a member of Metropolitan and saw my post. Several times before, Kim had asked to interview me about my career as an educator, and I’d always said no. This time, I said yes and agreed to do a Zoom interview.

The mainstream media caught wind of it, and the response was overwhelming. Some outlets mentioned me, and others interviewed me.

Here are some of the places I appeared.

Anderson Cooper’s Full Circle on CNN

Fox News

The Washington Post

Tulsa World

ABC News

MSNBC

CBS News

Today Show

Trevor Noah

Dan Rather even mentioned me on Twitter!

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People from all over the world have said my selfies and words of encouragement have blessed and inspired them.

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Then the gifts started to arrive. Here are some of the wonderful presents I received!

Jen Hager, from New Jersey, painted my selfies on several jean jackets. She did a marvelous job! Thanks again, Jen!

I was delighted to receive